Wrangell Sentinel -

Brad Williams - 2014

What is your previous experience on boards or other relevant experience that would qualify you as a member of the Wrangell Medical Board of Directors?

I was Chairman of the Board for the Mountain Book School District for 3 years. I was Chairman of the Board for the Montana Advisory Counsel for 1.5 years.

I also have 35+ years dealing with various boards on a wide range of issues. I have very strong moral values to include a sense of right and wrong. I believe in and try to follow the Golden Rule in my journey through life.

Honesty, integrity and loyalty are very important character traits in my life. When dealing with issues I try to remain as unbiased as possible and view the issue from as many perspectives as I can before making a decision.

What are some of the main hospital-related issues you would like to address as a member of the Wrangell Medical Board of Directors?

I think that the first issue the board should address is the issue of the USDA funding for the new hospital. The board needs to insure that the funding is secure so the facility can be completed per the vote of the people.

Second the board needs to conduct a full audit of all financial records at the WMC and take appropriate actions as needed.

Third the board should address the issue of Dr. Salard, as his issue is the one that brought us to this point in the first place.

The board also needs to address the issue of distrust brought on by the previous board’s actions. I believe that this will be the most difficult task for the board to accomplish, however I also believe it can be done.

What qualities should the board look for in the next CEO of Wrangell Medical Center?

Honesty, integrity and loyalty. He should come into the position fully aware of past and future obstacles he will have to face and be willing to meet them head on.

What do you feel is the proper working relationship between the City and Borough of Wrangell and the Wrangell Medical Center?

Both the City and Borough of Wrangell and the WMC boards MUST be willing to work together, share information and ideas. After all both are elected boards by the people and they should have the people of Wrangell’s best interests at heart in any decisions or issue they are dealing with.

How do you view the USDA financing issues that affect the WMC renovation project?

The USDA financing is extremely important to the completion of the new hospital project. This funding has already been secured once.

A change of hands on the board should not have a major impact however I am sure that reassurances will need to be given to the USDA that the people of Wrangell are committed to moving forward with the project.

Cori Robinson - 2014

What is your previous experience on boards or other relevant experience that would qualify you as a member of the Wrangell Medical Board of Directors?

I have served on several boards since I moved back to Wrangell in 1999. I have served on the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce board for 11 years. I also served on the Convention & Visitor Bureau Board for 4 years and also the Nolan Board for 2 years.

My ambition to join these boards was to become more involved in the background of what they do to better our community. I don’t think people realize the time and energy that is spent volunteering on these boards.

My biggest word of advice is to not ever go in with a personal vendetta. But rather go in with the betterment of the community and its growth in mind.

What are some of the main hospital-related issues you would like to address as a member of the Wrangell Medical Board of Directors?

Some of the main hospital-related issues that I would like to see addressed? Well, there are a few. I would like to see a larger long care term for our elderly.

It was hard to see my grandmother admitted to the long term care a few years ago. She very much disliked the fact that she had to share her personal space with another, from the channel she was watching on TV, sharing a bathroom or listening to her roommate moan and yell in the middle of the night. She hated not having her space and having to write her name on everything.

I also wish we had the means to provide a broader range of health care. It gets so expensive to fly on a Medevac or have to go to another town for more thorough testing, no matter what kind of an income you have.

What qualities should the board look for in the next CEO of Wrangell Medical Center?

To find someone with good credentials. Someone who can communicate clearly with the community and hospital personnel. Someone who is looking at the long term for Wrangell and has a vested interest in the community.

What do you feel is the proper working relationship between the City and Borough of Wrangell and the Wrangell Medical Center?

I think that the proper relationship between the City and Borough of Wrangell and the Wrangell Medical Center would be first and foremost respect. At all levels. We seem to lose sight of that at times. I think that all the other should fall into place as with any other board and who the primary overseer is.

How do you view the USDA financing issues that affect the WMC renovation project?

I don’t know the exact circumstances that took place with USDA and the WMC renovation so it wouldn’t be fair for me to comment on that issue.

Yes, there is documentation that is available to the public and it provides several of the events that lead up to the withdrawal of funding from USDA but there is so much more that took place in executive sessions and phone calls that the public will never know, except by word of mouth.

I for one am not willing to entertain the thought of that information if I wasn’t present to hear it myself. I will say that I hope that funding is available and that we can move forward and build the new WMC. So much has been invested already. It would be sad to see it stop now.

Rhonda Dawson - 2014

What is your previous experience on boards of other relevant experience that would

qualify you as a member of the Wrangell Medical Center Board of Directors?

Office Manager of Thomas Bay Power Authority and Secretary to the TBPA Commission; Energy Coordinator and Personal Assistant to the Alaska Canada Energy Coalition Board of Directors; Wrangell Code and Review Committee; Wrangell Economic Development Committee; Wrangell Wellness Board; Vice-president of the Wrangell Cooperative Association; Board Member and Vice-president of the Salvation Army; Property Liaison of the Eagle Nest Lodging LLC; Personal Assistant to the CEO of Full Scale Productions; Financial Assistant to the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce; Volunteer to Youth Services and Children with Addictions; Volunteer to the Director of the Issaquah Senior Center; Legislative Aid and Personal Assistant to former Senator Robin Taylor; Tribal Government CCTHITA - Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska; Wrangell Cooperative Association; NRA National Rifle Association.

What are some of the main hospital-related issues you would like to address as a member of the Wrangell Medical Center Board of Directors?

Trust: We have a fine, qualified and outstanding staff in place at the WMC. I believe the main issue facing the WMC hospital board is to regain the trust and confidence of the citizens of Wrangell.

Unity: I would work towards uniting the WMC board, staff, and employees towards the common goals established by the board to create a great place to work and serve our community of Wrangell. Listening to employees concerns is essential to build trust between the administration and the employees.

Openness: WMC is a community hospital. The Board of Directors is elected by the people to serve the people. We must hold our meetings in an accessible venue, encourage public participation, make public all minutes and backup information, and above all else, we should keep the care of our patients at the forefront of every decision we make.

What qualities should the board look for in the next CEO of Wrangell Medical Center?

I believe the correct terminology is hospital administrator. The hospital administrator is responsible for the day-to-day operation of a hospital. They must have the ability to coordinate all of the departments into a cohesive unit focused on quality of care.

The new hospital administrator must have experience in operating and managing a hospital with a strong emphasis on accountability, organizational skills, enforcement of policy and procedures, communication with both the board and public.

This would include public relations with a positive image including keeping up with the ever-changing medical technology, government regulations, financing options and health insurance benefits. Above all working with staff and the community is a must for any new hospital administrator.

What do you feel is the proper working relationship between the City and Borough of Wrangell and the Wrangell Medical Center?

Candidate did not return an answer to this question.

How do you view the USDA financing issues that affect the WMV renovation project?

The voters of Wrangell approved the USDA loan in the special election last November. It is now up to our Borough Assembly to proceed with the construction of the new medical facility.

The only function of the hospital board is to operate and maintain the current facility. It is clear in the Borough Charter that the hospital board can only operate and maintain the current facility.

Once the new facility is built and can be occupied, then the hospital board will take over the operations and maintenance of the new facility.

Megan Clark - 2014

What is your previous experience on boards or other relevant experience that would qualify you as a member of the Wrangell Medical Board of Directors?

I have been lucky enough to call Wrangell home since my family moved here in 1994. My husband, Jason, and I want nothing more than to live in Wrangell and raise our daughter here.

In my position as Director of the Wrangell Museum I have had the opportunity to work with not only my own Board, but the City Council and the SHED Committee for the WCA Shakes Island Renovation Project.

After receiving my Masters Degree from the University of Washington in 2007, I have acquired significant knowledge in both short term and long term not-for-profit management and fundraising, both on the job and in academic environments.

I am also passionate about providing Wrangell with stable, quality healthcare, because as a parent, I want the best to be available to my daughter, and the other members of this community that are important to me.

What are some of the main hospital-related issues you would like to address as a member of the Wrangell Medical Board of Directors?

I believe at this point the most important issue is to get the new medical facility built and operational. Wrangell needs and deserves a first class hospital and long term care facility.

I also believe that the Hospital Board and the City need to move on from recent events and continue in a positive direction, and as a member of the Hospital Board, I would like to help move that process along.

What qualities should the board look for in the next CEO of Wrangell Medical Center?

First and foremost I believe the hospital CEO should have all of the proper credentials to administer our hospital and long term care facility. Ideally they would have experience in setting up new facilities and be well versed in fundraising and development. Another important aspect is to find someone who feels they can adapt to our town and small town way of life.

What do you feel is the proper working relationship between the City and Borough of Wrangell and the Wrangell Medical Center?

I currently run a department for the City, and I believe it is a successful relationship because my supervisors trust my opinions and decisions and I conduct all of my business under a rule of complete transparency.

I know that whoever is elected to the Board will need to make it a priority to repair the relationship with the City and the community.

If everyone follows the rules and makes the best decision they can with the information they have, and what business can and should be conducted in the open is done so with transparency, then I believe the hospital and the City can work very well together.

How do you view the USDA financing issues that affect the WMC renovation project?

At this point the USDA funds are on hold until a new Board is elected and seated. However, the USDA is still very willing to continue working with the community to ensure that a new facility is built.

I believe those funds can and will be made available again once the USDA is comfortable with the stability of the new of the hospital board and CEO.

Betty Keegan - 2012

What is your previous experience on boards or other relevant experience that would qualify you as a member of the Wrangell Medical Center Board of Directors?

I began my hospital career on Jan 1, 1963, at Mckay Memorial Hospital, a 25-bed acute care facility, with 18 LTC beds in Soap Lake. My work experience there was supervisor of fiscal services, secretary to the Administrator, acting in her behalf when she was absent, and recording secretary to the Board of Directors. I left my employment on Sept. 30, 1974, to accept a similar position at Wrangell General Hospital. My employment at Wrangell General began on Oct. 15, 1974 and ended on my retirement on Jan. 30, 1991. My job description was basically the same as it had been in Soap Lake.

Both hospitals underwent remodeling and expansion during my tenure, and my added duties were about the same, assisting in applying for Certificate of Need from the state, working with our local government agencies (in Soap Lake it was the County Commissions of Grant County Washington) and here the Wrangell City Council.

There were a lot of interim Dept. of Health inspections to assure our quality of services remained the same during remodel. Both facilities acted as their own contractor, so I was responsible for maintaining all Bacon Davis wage reports required by the Federal Government.

I served one full term on the WMC Hospital Board after retirement, and was part way through my second term, acting in the position of Assistant Chair, when my personal values conflicted with the Administration, and I resigned.

I was appointed in 2004 by then-Governor Murkowski to a Board seat on the State of Alaska Department of health and Human Resources Commission on Aging. This is a federally mandated Agency to oversee the distribution of federal and state Medicare and Medicaid funding. I was reappointed to the Commission by then-Governor Sarah Palin, and again re-appointed by present Gov. Sean Parnell.

My commission sunsets this fall.

This has been an eye opening experience for me, traveling to health and social service agencies all over the State of Alaska. It included working with the legislature in Juneau, federal agencies, and learning the latest trends in expected fiscal income from state and feds for Medicare and Medicaid services.

I have learned about the funding for Community Health Centers, and Critical Access hospitals. Wrangell is one of a very few communities to receive extra health care funding for qualifying for these two titles. Even more so, there is an urgent need for these 2 agencies to work together to insure the continuation of those funds.

If elected to this short-term seat, will you run again for the same seat in the general election?

This position is for such a short term, that I have to make a firm commitment to run for re-election in October, if I am elected at this time.

What do you think you can accomplish, in the short-term, if elected to fill this seat?

The time frame is so short; I do not foresee any great accomplishment.

I would hope the first priority is the establishing of a good working relationship by the Board with Acting Administrator Olinda White. Olinda has previously planned to retire on Dec 31, 2012. Is that firm, or can she give the Board a little more time? That decision will set the course for board activity.

What qualities should the board look for in the next CEO of Wrangell Medical Center?

I do not feel the board, in this short period of time, has the full appreciation of the scope of knowledge needed by a new administrator. I would hope that we find an interim administrator, and use his/her knowledge to help us in our search.

Juneau’s Bartlett Hospital just did this. They were suddenly without a CEO, and they hired John Vowell, former administrator of Wrangell General to serve as CEO, and to lead them in their search.

That would be time consuming, and costly, but a man such as John, who has led building projects, while maintaining a working facility, working well within the community, and with staff would be in our best interest.

Barbara Conine - 2012

What is your previous experience on boards or other relevant experience that would qualify you as a member of the Wrangell Medical Center Board of Directors?

I spent better than 20 years of my business life running small businesses or consulting with small businesses. I am familiar with all aspects of accounting up to the federal tax returns as well as hiring/firing and day-to-day operations.

I have gained a familiarity with many of the federal agencies so do not find them intimidating. I also was a member of the Wrangell Tourism Advisory Board for years when it was first getting started. One of the functions then was to determine how to raise funds for the community to promote awareness of Wrangell as a destination.

If elected to this short-term seat, will you run again for the same seat in the general election?

Yes.

What do you think you can accomplish, in the short-term, if elected to fill this seat?

I am hoping a new board is able to address the charter issues to bring the hospital into synch with the City charter since it is a public entity. I hope a new board can meet with all employees to learn what is right about the hospital and what maybe needs addressing with no fear of retribution. I also hope members of the community can address their hopes and concerns to the new board.

What qualities should the board look for in the next CEO of Wrangell Medical Center?

The board needs to look for an administrator who has had management experience previously in either a long-term care or hospital setting. The candidate should possess all the proper licenses needed before coming here and should pay attention to the hospital and its needs first and foremost.

This is a good community and I’d like to think someone will like it was much as we all do and want to make this hospital something in which all of us can take pride.